The BB of C

I never liked that drill. I prefer Randori type stuff.

Perhaps. But I've always seen it as it wouldn't still be there if it really was inneffective. That, and it's time consuming to get good at any kind of technique. Thirdly, I stated that anything could look flashy. Even the most basic punches and kicks. Flashy is all about preception. If a fight starts and right off the bat you slam your opponent's head three times and then slam on his 10th rib four times and he suddenly drops unconsious, to someone on the outside it might seem flashy. When it really wasn't. It was just done correctly and it ended the fight. That aside, you're not supposed to just train the technique. You're also supposed to train your timing, your speed, everything. And actually come to terms with the fact that it's time consuming but that's how people get good. Every technique I've ever learned I've put to use SOMEWHERE at least once. Every kick, every punch, every hip throw, wrist throw, pressure point, submission, joint lock, everything. Then when I can, I get my training buddies together and we drill these, and fight to make them better. We're usually out in some park or wilderness for several hours doing that. Then we come back battered, bleeding and bruised. But that's what martial arts are really about and that's how we got to where we are as far as fighting ability and we all know that we still have a long way to go. You also have to keep in mind that a lot of martial arts were developed in war times. Which simply says that the melee techniques have litterally been battle tested. Different styles may have done it differently. Some styles have several techniques for every imagineable situation and then in order to apply them to modern day you tweak them a little bit (if they need to be) and other martial arts have only a few techniques but there are drills in the style that show you how to apply them to almost everything. Also we must keep in mind that it always comes down to who has more power and that there is no perfect technique (because there's no perfect art/artist/person). I made a list of at least one hundred physical, mental and spiritual factors that effect the outcome a fight. Then I get in a fight with someone with no martial arts experience. He simply has most of those stats higher than mine with the exception of a few, he's going to beat me. I've come to peace with that. On a more personal note, I know that if I cut a technique from my library just for the reason that it's difficult to do, I will inhibit myself. My spinning kicks are a good example. I use them. I've made them work and other times I've taken mean counters. But every week at sparring I use them perfectly at least twice and when I'm going against people who won't let me use them, I lose horribly because I see places where I would use that technique and simply don't know what to do. When the person is too far away for a punch but still moving closer with an attack chambered, or if I'm trying to keep someone from coming closer, my instincts say spin kick. Then the spin kick happens. If I'm sparring anyone except for the two head instructors of that class, I either hit them with that technique or they back off and give me a chance to use a follow-through counter. Sometimes I even hit the two head instructors with it. Usually at this point I get "If the opponent is big and charging at full speed you'll get knocked over." I know that and I've prepared for it. It's not fashionable to do this in sparring class, but when I'm being charged by my training buddies who are body builders during our full-force-fighting sessions and my instincts say spin kick. I simply drop down, put my planted leg's knee to the ground and then do the spin kick. It turns into a sweep kick. My heel or instep slams their achielles tendon, their legs come out from under them, depending on how much momentum was going forward they might fly a couple of feet, they take damage from slamming on the ground and now I have them right where they're needed. Simple things like that make a huge difference. Some people will still say it's a flashy technique. But I just made it work and I still say to them that flashy is a matter of preception. Examples of Flasy Techniques: Example Example As you can see. Some of them are high level and very difficult kicks and punches. Others are very basic but done with power and timing.

It happens. I don't know how and I have yet to figure out how to fix it (other than locking all the leaders of the organizations in a room together and not letting them out until they've unified). But it happens. That's part of the reason I don't join a school for style or if it's a member of an organization. I always join for consistancy, quality of students, average power level of the students, and the quality of instruction. I've always noticed that martial arts organizations don't usually do anything for martial arts except create beaucracy within them. Which, I believe, is the last place you want such a thing.

The techniques that some people refer to as "flashy" are just as effective if taught properly. The only difference between a normal technique and a "flashy" technique is that when a flashy technique is done; it's faster than heck, makes a clean connection, visually effects the opponent, and might make a sound when it strikes the target. So basically it's just a matter of outside-looking-in perception. Shoot, if that's the case then I could make the simplest punch to the face look "flashy." Doesn't mean it wasn't effective. It just means that it was done correctly and frankly it looked good because of it.

Ah. I see how that works now.

Perhaps. Without a doubt in my mind the chamber height is part of it. But I saw three planted foot pivot points in the video. When he did the first chamber his planted foot was horizontal to the target. When he brought it around and raised his chamber, his foot pivoted to a forty-five degree angle. When he connected the kick heel was pointing towards the target. That's what I have been doing since I had similar joint pains. I looked at my kick as three parts of one kick. This old guy moves ultra fast though so maybe to a lot of people it looks like one big pivot at the very end of the technique.

I always defined power is a combination of the factors. For example, let's say you're on a baseball card with stats. Your card has stats for speed, strength and form. Out of five you have a five in form, a three in speed and a two. If you combine them together you get the average. So your overall physical power is between three and four. Add speed into the katas. Speed is equal to mass. So the faster you move, the harder it's going to hit those imaginary targets. Add rooting into the katas. Make sure your feet are in the right position so that you can draw all your power from the ground. Add snapping into the katas. Start the movement in the hips and bring the momentum through the upper body, into the shoulders, through the arms and then out the striking point (fist, fingers, elbow etc.). This will naturally add speed and strength to the katas. Add attitude into the katas. If you put your heart and soul into doing it, you'll probably do it a lot better. Visualize the imaginary targets. You'll be a lot less likely to just go through the movements and then lack the power that you need. As my high school's theatre director always said, "Practice like you are the worst; perform like you are the best." As a side note, ask your instructors more questions about kata application. What imaginary targets are you supposed to be hitting? Is your footwork good? Things like that. If they tell you to 'add more power' it probably means you need to practice it correctly more often. If you're not sure what you're doing wrong that makes you lack power, ask the instructor. If they don't say anything except maybe repeat the phrase "add more power", you might need a better instructor.

Maybe I'm too young to comprehend it, but I just don't get it. Except for headache's and after surgeries, I've never seen my father take Alieve and he's 52-years-old. I don't know if my 49-year-old instructor takes it for any joint pains but sometimes he talks about being inflexible due to age. Even that I find hard to believe because he caught me right in the forehead with his left foot last Saturday and I didn't even see him pivot his hip.

Yes, I noticed that. I figured it might be planted foot position because I used to not pivot my feet properly when doing this kind of kick and I had similar pain. Of course it's just a guess going from what Aiyo6o4 has told us.

If it's the supporting leg around the hip, then I think perhaps you're not pivoting that leg properly. Watch the video you posted a few times. Don't look at the leg that's kicking, look at the leg that's on the ground when he's kicking. Pay close attention to the movements that his planeted foot makes. I'll use screenshots from the video to give a better visual. http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b245/Hidushikai/untitled.jpg When you start the kick, turn your foot like in the screenshot. When starting or chambering a kick, your toes should be pointing in the direction your leg is going to go. Your heel should be pointing in the opposite direction. http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b245/Hidushikai/untitled2.jpg As you lift up your leg, keep pivoting your planted foot. Aim towards pointing your toes behind you. http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b245/Hidushikai/untitled3.jpg When the kick gets to the part where it would be connecting with a target, your toes should be pointing behind you and your heel should be pointing towards the target. http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b245/Hidushikai/untitled4.jpg Equally as important as all that, make careful note of the way the instructor sets himself down. He's basically turning his back to the target. Personally, I would suggest reversing the movements your planted foot made and setting back down in the ready stance you were in before you executed the kick. But do what you find easiest, most comfortable, and can practice to make the fastest. If you set down with your back to the target like the screenshot or if you reverse your planted foot movements and land back in your ready stance, either way you'll prevent hurting your hips more. You'll also naturally generate more power into the kick. Practice this footwork in the kick slowly for a few weeks and then try it fast again. Do full body stretches frequently to increase and maintain leg flexibility. If you are continuing to hurt yourself after everything else I've mentioned, it might be something internally. I don't know what your diet is like, but I would suggest adding protien for muscle mass and calcium for bone structure. Or maybe you're just a n00b and if that's the case everything will come with time and practice

That's a good idea too. The throws are very similar to Aikido, the kicks are similar to Tae Kwon Do, lots of pressure point hand strikes, and it mixes them all together a lot like Hapkido.

I'd go with Tallgeese on this one. Aikido is right what you're looking for. Typically they cover knife, sword, staff and short staff. Some schools cover gun defense as well. Be careful which school you choose though. In my town there is an Aikido school called Aikido Kokikai. It's about 40% Aikido techniques and 40% philosophy class and 20% working out. It's to be understood because Aikido was developed around some philosophy but some schools can get excessive with it. Especially if that's not what you're looking for.

Looks like the 22-29 division is the minority now.

The last time I fell unintentionally into a full split it did absolutely nothing to me. It was like "Hey check this out, I fell."

Whoa. That was an eye-opener. I've trained a lot of disarms for swords, knives, staff, sai and handgun. But all the knife disarms I've trained are either a deliberate head-on slash, a head-on stab, or a knife against the back. I never thought about close quarters on the trachea like that. It totally stumped me. I'm going to have to start doing research on this.

At the same time none of us should be talking. Heck, I'm obese (working hard to fix it but obese nonetheless). Besides, you ever see those 90-year-old Tai Chi practitioners that can do full splits standing against a tree?

yep... We may be a minority but at least we never complain about joint and/or lower back problems

The founders of Aikido and Isshin-ryu were pretty old when they died. Early to late eighties I believe. I'm not sure what to think about this. It's interesting, that's for sure. I'll have to think about it some more and come back with an opinion.

So far I'm the only one that voted 17-21. I'm eighteen years old. I hope that section gets more hits. I'd hate to be the youngest one here

Interesting. I'll say that I agree they are a bit boring to watch. But I do agree with you on the fact that the forms look like they have roots in Shotokan. I forget which form I learned, but in one 50-minute demo class, I was able to learn the whole of one of the Tae Kwon Do forms. So it's not like they're that hard. Not any of the ones that I've seen (four different forms, I don't remember the names)(sorry, that probably kills a lot of my credibility ) That's just what I have to say.

Then it will be added. Now that I think about it, it's kind of oblivious of me to miss that one.

What University are you at BB? I'm at a local community college. I'm just doing this because I like writing and called it a thesis because it's going to be freaking thick when I'm done with it My bad. Just to kill everyone's curiosity, I major in film and theatre. Well, I think that one would use an analysis to come up with a strategy or a tactic. However, one would usually train his tactics before going into the fight. So, you could make a case for it in that way. I see. Then it shall be added. I see. In more simple terms it's just a state of clear mindedness?

I might see X-Men origins. Everything else doesn't look too good to me.

A friendly sparring grudgematch. My bad. Definately not a full out grudgematch. That would suck. An exibition match might be a more accurate word.

I like that idea. Elaborate please. Just to make sure we're on the same wavelength with it.